was not near finished when we entered the Park.

When there, you can't think what hundreds of gents on horseback came to
the carriage and talked to the ladies. They had their joke for Lady
Drum, who seemed to be a character in her way; their bow for Lady Jane;
and, the young ones especially, their compliment for Lady Fanny.

Though she bowed and blushed, as a young lady should, Lady Fanny seemed
to be thinking of something else; for she kept her head out of the
carriage, looking eagerly among the horsemen, as if she expected to see
somebody. Aha! my Lady Fanny, _I_ knew what it meant when a young pretty
lady like you was absent, and on the look-out, and only half answered the
questions put to her. Let alone Sam Titmarsh--he knows what Somebody
means as well as another, I warrant. As I saw these manoeuvres going on,
I could not help just giving a wink to Lady Jane, as much as to say I
knew what was what. "I guess the young lady is looking for Somebody,"
says I. It was then her turn to look queer, I assure you, and she
blushed as red as scarlet; but, after a minute, the good-natured little
thing looked at her sister, and both the young ladies put their
handkerchiefs up to their faces, and began laughing--laughing as if I had
said the funniest thing in the world.

"Il est charmant, votre monsieur," said Lady Jane to her grandmamma; and
on which I bowed, and said, "Madame, vous me faites beaucoup d'honneur:"
for I know the French language, and was pleased to find that these good
ladies had taken a liking to me. "I'm a poor humble lad, ma'am, not used
to London society, and do really feel it quite kind of you to take me by
the hand so, and give me a drive in your fine carriage."

At this minute a gentleman on a black horse, with a pale face and a tuft
to his chin, came riding up to the carriage; and I knew by a little start
that Lady Fanny gave, and by her instantly looking round the other way,
that _Somebody_ was come at last.

"Lady Drum," said he, "your most devoted servant! I have just been
riding with a gentleman who almost shot himself for love of the beautiful
Countess of Drum in the year--never mind the year."

"Was it Killblazes?" said the lady: "he's a dear old man, and I'm quite
ready to go off with him this minute. Or was it that delight of an old
bishop? He's got a lock of my hair now--I gave it him when he was Papa's
chaplain; and let me tell you it would be a hard matter to find another
now in t